U.S. patent application number 11/334367 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-27 for sensor device for automatic door assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to OPTEX CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Takashi Imai, Hirofumi Shimada.
Application Number | 20060162254 11/334367 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36182387 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060162254 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Imai; Takashi ; et
al. |
July 27, 2006 |
Sensor device for automatic door assembly
Abstract
To provide a compact sensor device for the automatic door
assembly, which can be mounted and dismounted easily to a support
member and be effective to secure the safety in the doorway
vicinity, a activation sensor (1) for opening a door (3) and a
safety sensor (2) for keeping the door (3) open are supported in a
fashion overlapped one above the other in a direction conforming to
the direction in which they are secured to a support member
(5).
Inventors: |
Imai; Takashi; (Otsu-shi,
JP) ; Shimada; Hirofumi; (Otsu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
OPTEX CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
36182387 |
Appl. No.: |
11/334367 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/26 ; 318/364;
340/552; 49/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F 15/73 20150115;
E05F 2015/434 20150115; E05Y 2600/45 20130101; E05Y 2900/132
20130101; E05F 15/43 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
049/026 ;
340/552; 318/364; 049/028 |
International
Class: |
E05F 15/02 20060101
E05F015/02; G08B 13/18 20060101 G08B013/18; H02P 29/04 20060101
H02P029/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 21, 2005 |
JP |
2005-014369 |
Claims
1. A sensor device for a door assembly, which is supported by a
support member through a mounting member and capable of outputting
an output signal necessary to control selective opening and closure
of the door assembly in response to detection of a human body,
which device comprises: a activation sensor for outputting a
activation signal necessary to open the door assembly in response
to detection of a human body within a detection area defined for
activation purpose and distant from the door assembly; and a safety
sensor for outputting a hold signal necessary to keep the door
assembly open in response to detection of the human body within a
detection area defined for safety purpose and in the vicinity of
the door assembly; wherein the activation sensor and the safety
sensor are supported in a relation overlapping one above the other
in a direction conforming to the fixing direction in which the
mounting member is fixed to the support member.
2. The sensor device for the automatic door assembly as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises a first mounting
piece for fixing the activation sensor to the safety sensor in the
overlapped relation and a second mounting piece for fixing the
safety sensor to the support member.
3. The sensor device for the automatic door assembly as claimed in
claim 2, wherein the activation sensor includes a activation sensor
main body and a activation sensor cover, and the safety sensor
includes a safety sensor main body having a support projection for
supporting the activation sensor main body and a safety sensor
cover having an opening defined by an inner peripheral face
engageable with an outer peripheral surface of the support
projection, with a portion of the safety sensor cover overlapping
the activation sensor cover in the fixing direction in which the
activation sensor is fixed.
4. The sensor device for the automatic door assembly as claimed in
claim 3, said portion of the safety sensor cover comprises a
seating protuberance formed on the inner peripheral face of the
opening in the safety sensor cover.
5. The sensor device for the automatic door assembly as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the activation sensor and the safety sensor are
fixed in an overlapped relation with each other to the support
member through a common mounting member.
6. The sensor device for the automatic door assembly as claimed in
claims 1, wherein the activation sensor is a radar sensor operable
with microwaves and the safety sensor is an infrared sensor.
7. The sensor device for the automatic door assembly as claimed in
claim 6, wherein the radar sensor is a microwave sensor that makes
use of the Doppler effect.
8. The sensor device for the automatic door assembly as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises a screw member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a sensor device for an
automatic door assembly, which is operable to output in response to
detection of a human body, an output signal necessary to control
selective opening and closure of the automatic door assembly.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] It is generally known to use a sensor device such as, for
example, a photosensor so that in response to detection of a human
body moving past a door assembly, selective opening and closure of
the automatic door assembly can be controlled. See, for example,
the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-311060. For the
photosensor, either an infrared reflection type switch or a
pyroelectric switch is generally largely employed.
[0005] In the case where the automatic door assembly is installed
in the environment in which it tends to be exposed to the weather
or airborne dust and dirt, a radar sensor (microwave sensor)
operable with microwaves less susceptible to those undesirable or
offensive impacts from the atmosphere is generally employed as the
sensor device for the automatic door assembly.
[0006] It has, however, been found that since the MW (microwave)
sensor makes use of, for example, the Doppler effect, the MW sensor
is incapable of detecting a still object and, therefore, it is
quite often that a person trying to move past the door assembly may
be jammed between a sliding door and a pillar or between sliding
doors once he or she stands still in the doorway. For this reason,
an attempt has been made to use an additional photosensor separate
from the MW sensor and disposed below the MW sensor or to use a
sensor device having a combined function of the MW sensor and the
photosensor, in place of the sole MW sensor, to enable detection of
an object in the doorway vicinity.
[0007] However, the system in which, in order to secure the safety
in the doorway vicinity, the photosensor is employed separately in
addition to the MW sensor such as hitherto practiced in the art,
has a problem in that since the photosensor is installed using
separate support members, the sensor system as a whole tends to
become bulky and requires a complicated electric wiring system.
Also, replacement of the MW sensor with the sensor device having
the combined function of the MW sensor and the photosensor tends to
result in increase of the cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been
devised to substantially alleviate the foregoing problems and
inconveniences inherent in the prior art sensor systems and is
intended to provide a sensor device for the automatic door
assembly, which is compact and simple and can be mounted and
dismounted easily to be a support member, and further can be
assembled at a reduced cost and be effective to secure the safety
in the doorway vicinity.
[0009] In order to accomplish the foregoing object, the present
invention provides a sensor device that is supported by a support
member through a mounting member and capable of outputting an
output signal necessary to control selective opening and closure of
the door assembly in response to detection of a human body. This
sensor device includes a activation sensor for outputting a
activation signal necessary to open the door assembly in response
to detection of a human body within a detection area defined for
activation purpose and distant from the door assembly, and a safety
sensor for outputting a hold signal for outputting a hold signal
necessary to keep the door assembly open in response to detection
of the human body within a detection area defined for safety
purpose and in the vicinity of the door assembly. The activation
sensor and the safety sensor are supported in a relation
overlapping one above the other in a direction conforming to the
fixing direction in which the mounting member is fixed to the
support member.
[0010] According to the present invention, since the activation
sensor and the safety sensor are supported in the relation
overlapping one above the other in a direction conforming to the
fixing direction in which they are fixed to the mounting member,
any existing mounting structure currently employed to support the
activation sensor can be employed with the safety sensor mounted
over the activation sensor so that the safety in the doorway
vicinity can be secured through the safety sensor. Accordingly,
mounting and dismounting of the sensor assembly can be effected by
a simple one direction operation or movement of the mounting
member, and further, the sensor device of the present invention is
effective to secure the safety in the doorway vicinity with a
compact and simplified structure and at an advantageously reduced
cost.
[0011] Preferably, the mounting member referred to above is made up
of a first mounting piece for fixing the activation sensor to the
safety sensor in the overlapped relation and a second mounting
piece for fixing the safety sensor to the support member. In this
case, since the activation sensor is fixed to the safety sensor
through the first mounting piece, which may be an existing mounting
piece, and the safety sensor is fixed to the support member through
the second mounting piece together with the activation sensor, the
first and second mounting pieces can be made compact.
[0012] The activation sensor referred to above may preferably
include a activation sensor main body and a activation sensor cover
and, on the other hand, the safety sensor may include a safety
sensor main body having a support projection for supporting the
activation sensor main body and a safety sensor cover having an
opening defined by an inner peripheral face engageable with an
outer peripheral surface of the support projection, with a portion
of the safety sensor cover overlapping the activation sensor cover
in the direction in which the activation sensor is fixed. These
design features are particularly advantageous in that engagement of
the opening of the safety sensor cover over the support projection
of the safety sensor main body is effective to provide a dust tight
effect to the external environment. Also, since the activation
sensor cover is fixed to that portion of the safety sensor cover in
the overlapped relation, an uncalled-for removal of the safety
sensor cover by an unauthorized person can be effectively
prevented. That portion of the safety cover may be a seating
protuberance formed on the inner peripheral face of the opening in
the safety sensor cover.
[0013] Also preferably, the activation sensor and the safety sensor
may be fixed in an overlapped relation with each other to the
support member through a common mounting member. In this case, the
activation sensor and the safety sensor can be fixed to the support
member through the common mounting member and accordingly, mounting
and dismounting of the sensor device of the present invention can
be further facilitated.
[0014] The activation sensor that can be employed in the practice
of the present invention may be a radar sensor operable with
microwaves and the safety sensor that can be employed in the
practice of the present invention may be an infrared sensor. More
preferably, the radar sensor referred to above may be a microwave
sensor that makes use of the Doppler effect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In any event, the present invention will become more clearly
understood from the following description of preferred embodiments
thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
However, the embodiments and the drawings are given only for the
purpose of illustration and explanation, and are not to be taken as
limiting the scope of the present invention in any way whatsoever,
which scope is to be determined by the appended claims. In the
accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote
like parts throughout the several views, and:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing an automatic door
open/closure control device operable with a sensor device for an
automatic door assembly according to a first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the sensor device
for the automatic door assembly according to the first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3A is a front elevational view of the sensor device
shown in FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 3B is a side view of the sensor device;
[0020] FIG. 3C is a bottom plan view of the sensor device;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the sensor device of FIG. 2,
showing interior details thereof;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the sensor device shown in
FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the sensor device for
the automatic door assembly according to a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention, showing a portion thereof;
and
[0024] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of that portion of the
sensor device shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0026] In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit block diagram of
an automatic door open/closure control device that is operable with
a sensor device for an automatic door assembly according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein,
the automatic door open/closure control device, generally
identified by 10, is designed to control a door engine 11 for
driving an automatic sliding door 3 from an open position towards a
closed position and also from the closed position towards the open
position, i.e., for driving the door assembly to selectively open
or close. This open/closure control device 10 includes a door
engine controller 12, an automatic door sensor device made up of a
activation sensor 1 and a safety sensor 2 both operable to detect
the presence or absence of a human body, and a signal processing
circuit 13. The signal processing circuit 13 in turn includes a
activation unit 14 for outputting a activation signal, which is
used to drive the sliding door 3 from the closed position towards
the open position, when the activation sensor 1 detects the
presence of the human body, and a safety hold unit 15 for
outputting a hold signal, which is used to maintain the sliding
door 3 in the open position, when the safety sensor 2 detects the
presence of the human body. The door engine 11 and the open/close
control device 10 are installed inside either the sliding door 3 or
a transom 5 used to support an upper wall portion of the sliding
door 3.
[0027] The automatic door sensor device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention is shown in a side
representation in FIG. 2. As hereinabove described, this automatic
door sensor device includes the activation sensor 1 and the safety
sensor 2. It is to be noted that in FIG. 2, the automatic door
sensor device is shown as employed in two in number, one assigned
to detect a person ready to enter a building past the door assembly
and the other to detect a person ready to go out of the building
past the door assembly. However, since the automatic door sensor
devices assigned to detect persons ready to enter and go out of the
building past the door assembly, respectively, are of a
substantially identical construction and since the present
invention in a broad aspect thereof works satisfactorily with the
sole automatic door sensor device, reference will be made in this
specification to only one of the automatic door sensor devices.
[0028] The activation sensor 1 referred to above and forming a part
of the automatic door sensor device is supported by an outer face
of a transom 5 above the automatic sliding door 3 and is operable
to output a detected human body signal a in the event that the
activation sensor 1 detects the presence of a human body within a
activation detection area El distant from the sliding door 3. On
the other hand, the safety sensor 2 referred to above and forming
another part of the automatic door sensor device is supported on
the outer face of the transom 5 above the sliding door 3 and is
operable to output a detected human body signal .beta. in the event
that the safety sensor 2 detects the presence of a human body (a
still object) within a safety detection area E2 defined in the
vicinity of the sliding door 3, for example, in a portion of the
doorway adjacent the path of movement of the sliding door 3. The
activation detection area E1 covered by the activation sensor 1 and
the safety detection area E2 covered by the safety sensor 2 overlap
partly in a region near the sliding door 3 as indicated by E3.
Specifically, the activation sensor 1 and the safety sensor 2, both
provided in the illustrated embodiment, are employed in the form of
a MW (microwave) sensor utilizing the Doppler effect and an AIR
(active type infrared) sensor, respectively.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the activation sensor 1, or the
MW sensor, is of a generally hemispherical configuration in a side
view having its base representing a substantially oval shape in a
front view, whereas the safety sensor 2, or the AIR sensor, is of a
generally flattened configuration. In the illustrated embodiment,
as best shown in a front elevational view in FIG. 3A, the MW sensor
1 has its base smaller in size than that of the AIR sensor 2 when
viewed from front, with the MW sensor 1 positioned substantially at
a geometric center area of the AIR sensor 2, and as best shown in a
side representation in FIG. 3B, the MW sensor 1 is mounted on the
AIR sensor 2 with a flat base area of the MW sensor 1 held in
abutment with a flat bottom surface of the AIR sensor 2. Also as
best shown in a bottom plan view in FIG. 3C, the MW sensor 1 is
provided with an MW sensor main body 22 for emitting and receiving
microwaves and, on the other hand, the AIR sensor 2 is provided
with a plurality of, for example, four, beam projecting elements 37
for projecting light downwardly and a plurality of, for example,
four, beam receiving elements 38 for receiving light reflected from
below.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom plan view of the automatic door
sensor device, showing interior details thereof. The MW sensor 1,
which may be any existing MW sensor, includes a generally
hemispherical MW sensor cover 21 covering the MW sensor main body
22, the MW sensor main body 22 includes a base support 1a of a
substantially oval shape when viewed from front and a hemispherical
MW sensor element 1b supported on the base support 1a. A sensor
module 23 is disposed inside the hemispherical MW sensor element
1b, and an electric circuit substrate 24 is disposed inside the
base support 1a. The base support 1a has screw insertion
throughholes 26 defined therein for passage therethrough of
corresponding first mounting pieces (male screw) 25 that are used
to secure the base support 1a to a support member (a transom) 5.
The screw insertion throughholes 26 defined in the base support 1a
extends in a direction conforming to the fixing direction X in
which the sensor device is secured to the transom 5.
[0031] The AIR sensor 2 includes an AIR sensor main body 32, which
is in turn made up of an electric power supply circuit substrate
33, a beam projecting circuit substrate 34 and a beam receiving
circuit substrate 35. The beam projecting elements 37 and the beam
receiving elements 38, both referred to above, are arranged
forwardly (or downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2) of those circuit
substrates 34, 35 so as to be oriented towards the doorway surface,
with respective lens elements (not shown) positioned forwardly of
those beam projecting and receiving elements 37 and 38.
[0032] As best shown in FIG. 5, the AIR sensor main body 32 has a
substantially oval projection 40, defined at a substantially center
area thereof and having a substantially oval outer peripheral
surface 51, and also has internally threaded screw holes 41 defined
therein at respective locations alignable with the screw insertion
throughholes 26 that is defined in the MW sensor 1 as described
hereinabove. The internally threaded screw holes 41 defined in the
AIR sensor main body 32 extend in a direction conforming to the
fixing direction X and, accordingly, when the MW sensor 1 is
overlapped on the AIR sensor 2, the screw insertion throughholes 26
in the MW sensor 1 can be aligned with the internally threaded
screw holes 41 in the AIR sensor 2. Therefore, after respective
male screws 25 have been inserted through the screw insertion
throughholes 26 and then threaded into the internally threaded
screw holes 41 in the AIR sensor 2, the MW sensor 1 and the AIR
sensor 2 are fastened together in an overlapping relation with each
other.
[0033] The AIR sensor 2 also has screw insertion holes 44 defined
therein so as to extend in a direction conforming to the fixing
direction X, so that when corresponding second mounting pieces
(tapping screws or male screws) 36 inserted through the screw
insertion holes 44 are threaded in the transom 5 or threaded into
associated internally threaded screw holes (not shown) defined in
the transom 5, the AIR sensor 2 can be firmly secured to the
transom 5. Thus, it will readily be seen that the assembly of the
MW sensor 1 and the AIR sensor 2 held in the overlapped relation
with each other in the manner described above by means of the
screws 25 can be firmly fixed to the transom 5 in the fixing
direction X by means of the second mounting pieces 36.
[0034] The sensor device of the foregoing embodiment are shown as
exploded in FIG. 5. The MW sensor cover 21 has a plurality of, for
example, two, engagement projections 27 and 27 defined inside
thereof and engageable with corresponding notches 28 and 28 defined
in a bottom portion of the MW sensor main body 22, so that the MW
sensor cover 21 can be combined or fixed together with the MW
sensor main body 22 when the engagement projections 27 and 27 are
engaged in the corresponding notches 28 and 28. The MW sensor main
body 22 also has a ditch 54 defined in a bottom surface thereof for
drainage of water as best shown in FIG. 4.
[0035] On the other hand, the AIR sensor 2 includes an AIR sensor
cover 31 covering the AIR sensor main body 32. The AIR sensor cover
31 is made up of a major wall 31a and a side wall 31b lying
generally perpendicular to the major wall 31a and having a front
portion thereof depleted to define a light projecting and receiving
window 31d through which the AIR sensor main body 32, i.e., the
beam projecting and receiving elements 37 and 38, is exposed to the
outside of the AIR sensor cover 31. The major wall 31a of the AIR
sensor cover 31 has a substantially oval opening 31c defined at a
geometric center area thereof in correspondence with the support
base 1a of the MW sensor main body 22. The substantially oval
projection 40 of the AIR sensor main body 32 has the screw holes 44
for receiving therein the respective second mounting pieces 36.
[0036] An inner peripheral face 48 of the substantially oval
opening 31c defined in the AIR sensor cover 31 lies parallel to the
fixing direction X and has its opposite portions protruding
inwardly of the oval opening 31c to define respective seating
protuberances 50 and 50. In other words, the AIR sensor cover 31
has the seating protuberances 50 and 50 defined therein so as to
protrude from corresponding opposite portions of the inner
peripheral face 48 of the oval opening 31 in a direction inwardly
of the oval opening 31, so that an oval bottom of the MW sensor
cover 21 can be seated on those seating protuberances 50 and 50
when the MW sensor cover 21 is capped onto the AIR sensor cover 31.
With this structure a portion or the protuberances 50 of the AIR
sensor cover 31 is overlapped with the MW sensor cover 21. The
seating protuberances 50 and 50 so formed in the major wall 31a of
the AIR sensor cover 31 are of a substantially crescent shape
having respective flat faces 49 and 49, which when the
[0037] AIR sensor cover 31 is capped onto the AIR sensor main body
32 with the oval projection 40 received inside the oval opening
31c, the flat faces 49 and 49 of the respective seating
protuberances 50 and 50 can be held substantially in contact with
corresponding cut faces 52 and 52 formed in the outer peripheral
surface 51 of the oval projection 40.
[0038] The AIR sensor main body 32 also has a wiring hole 45, a
ditch 53 and another ditch not shown, but defined in a bottom
surface thereof.
[0039] As hereinabove described, since the inner peripheral face 48
of the substantially oval opening 31c defined in the AIR sensor
cover 31 (inclusive of the flat faces 49 and 49 of the crescent
shaped seating protuberances 50 and 50) engages the outer
peripheral surface of the oval projection 40 (inclusive of the cut
faces 52 and 52) of the AIR sensor main body 32 for supporting the
MW sensor main body 22, the dust tight effect to the external
environment can be obtained. Also, since the MW sensor cover 21 is,
when capped into the oval opening 31c in the AIR sensor cover 31,
held in abutment with the seating protuberances 50 and 50 (forming
respective parts of the AIR sensor cover 31), the AIR sensor cover
31 cannot be removed unless the MW 20 sensor cover 21 is removed
and, accordingly, an uncalled-for removal of the AIR sensor cover
31 by an unauthorized person can be effectively prevented.
[0040] The AIR sensor cover 31 has engagement sections 42 and 42
defined in an inner face of the side wall 31b thereof, which
engagement sections 42 and 42 are engageable with a rib 43 that is
defined in a rear surface area 32a of the AIR sensor main body 32
so as to extend in a direction lengthwise of the AIR sensor main
body 32. Each engagement section 42 includes protrusions 42a and
42b which nip the rib 43 of the AIR sensor main body 32. The side
wall 31b of the AIR sensor cover 31 has its bottom edge portion
formed with engagement pawls 46 and 46 positioned inside the side
wall 31b, which pawls 46 and 46 are engageable with corresponding
cutouts 47 and 47, defined in a bottom region of the AIR sensor
main body 32, to thereby retain the AIR sensor cover 31 in a
condition fixed to the AIR sensor main body 32.
[0041] Hereinafter, the manner in which the MW sensor 1 and the AIR
sensor 2 are secured to the transom 5 will be described in detail
with particular reference to FIG. 5. At the outset, the AIR sensor
main body 32 is rigidly secured to the transom 5 with the male
second mounting pieces (or the tapping screws) 36 threaded into the
transom 5 through the insertion holes 44. After the AIR sensor main
body 32 has been so secured to the transom 5 in the manner
described above, the AIR sensor cover 31 is capped onto the AIR
sensor main body 32 with the rib 43 in the rear surface area 32a of
the AIR sensor main body 32 engaged in the engagement sections 42
and 42 in the inner face of the side wall 31b of the AIR sensor
cover 31 and, at the same time, with the engagement pawls 46 and 46
engaged in the corresponding cutouts 47 and 47, to thereby allow
the AIR sensor cover 31 to be held in a condition fixed to the AIR
sensor main body 32.
[0042] Following the mounting of the AIR sensor 2 on the transom 5
in the manner described above, the MW sensor main body 22 is
mounted on the AIR sensor main body 32 with the first mounting
pieces or the male screws 25 firmly threaded into the internally
threaded screw holes 41 in the AIR sensor main body 32 through the
screw insertion throughholes 26 in the AIR sensor 2. In this
condition, the oval base support 1a of the MW sensor main body 22
is immovably seated within the oval opening 31c in the AIR sensor
cover 31 with the hemispherical MW sensor element 1b oriented in a
direction counter to the AIR sensor main body 32. Finally, the MW
sensor cover 21 is capped onto the MW sensor main body 22 with the
engagement projections 27 and 27 engaged in corresponding notches
28 and 28 defined in that bottom portion of the MW sensor main body
22. In this way, assemblage of the sensor device of the present
invention completes. An electric wiring system for the electrical
connection of the AIR sensor 2 with an external electric control
circuit, for example, the automatic door open/closure control
device 10 shown in FIG. 1, is accomplished by the utilization of a
known wiring path used to connect the existing MW sensor 1 with the
external electric control circuit.
[0043] According to the present invention, as hereinabove
described, the sensor device is so designed that the MW sensor 1
and the AIR sensor 2 are supported to the transom 5 or any other
suitable support member by the utilization of the mounting holes
and pieces employed in association with the existing MW sensor 1
and also by the utilization of the site of installation of the
existing MW sensor 1 and the electric wiring system used to connect
the MW sensor 1 with the external electric control circuit.
Accordingly, the present invention is featured in that the
activation or MW sensor 1 and the safety or AIR sensor 2 are
advantageously integrated together in a compact construction.
[0044] It is to be noted that the MW sensor 1 and the AIR sensor 2
employed in the practice of the present invention are functionally
separate from each other and, hence, can work independently of each
other. Accordingly, if so desired, the MW sensor 1 and the AIR
sensor 2 may be secured to the transom 5 separately in a juxtaposed
fashion.
[0045] Referring again to FIG. 1, when the activation sensor 1
detects the presence of a human body in the activation detection
area E1 distant from and defined in, for example, an outdoor area,
the activation sensor 1 provides the activation unit 14 of the
signal processing circuit 13 with a detected human body signal
.alpha.. In response to this detected human body signal a, the
activation unit 14 outputs an ON signal, indicative of opening of
the door assembly, to the door engine 11 through the door engine
controller 12, with the sliding door 3 consequently moved from the
closed position towards the open position.
[0046] In the meantime, if no safety sensor such as identified by 2
is employed, a person attempting to move through the doorway after
having passed the activation detection area E1 (FIG. 2) will be
jammed in the doorway when he or she abruptly stands still in that
portion of the doorway adjacent the path of movement of the sliding
door 3. Specifically, since the activation sensor 1 no longer
outputs the detected human body signal a to the activation unit 14
and, hence, no ON signal is supplied therefrom to the door engine
11 through the door controller 12. Instead, after a predetermined
length of time subsequent to the cease of the ON signal from the
activation unit 14 resulting from interruption of supply of the
detected human body signal a from the activation sensor 1 to the
activation unit 14, the signal processing circuit 13 generates an
OFF signal, indicative of closure of the door assembly, to door
engine 11 through the door engine controller 12, with the sliding
door 3 consequently moved from the open position towards the closed
position.
[0047] The foregoing inconvenience may equally occur even when the
activation detection area E1 is expanded to cover that portion of
the doorway adjacent the path of movement of the sliding door 3
because the MW sensor 1 utilizing the Doppler effect is incapable
of detecting a still object such as a still person standing still
in that portion of the doorway adjacent the path of movement of the
sliding door 3.
[0048] However, the present invention makes use of the AIR sensor 2
in combination with the MW sensor 1. Specifically, while the MW
sensor 1 is incapable of detecting the person standing still as
hereinabove discussed, the AIR sensor 2 detects the presence of the
still object and, hence, the person standing still within the
safety detection area E2. Therefore, the human body will not be
jammed between the sliding door 3 and a pillar, once he or she
stands still in the doorway, without the sliding door 3 being moved
to the closed position in that occasion. The use of the MW sensor 1
in combination with the AIR sensor 2 is thus effective to secure
the safety in the vicinity of the sliding door 3.
[0049] As hereinbefore fully described, the present invention
represented by the foregoing embodiment is effective to secure the
safety in the doorway vicinity with a compact and simplified
structure and at an advantageously reduced cost since the
activation sensor 1 and the safety sensor 2 are supported by the
transom 5 in an overlapped fashion one above the other in a
direction conforming to the fixing direction X. Furthermore,
mounting and dismounting of the both sensors 1 and 2 can be
effected by a simple one direction operation or movement of the
mounting pieces 25 and 36 thereby facilitating operator's work of
mounting and dismounting.
[0050] Hereinafter, a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described with particular reference to FIGS. 6
and 7. It is, however, to be noted that the second embodiment is
similar to the first embodiment, but differs therefrom in respect
of the shape and mounting structure of the AIR sensor 2.
[0051] Referring now to FIG. 6, showing a side view of the sensor
device, as is the case with those in the previously described
embodiment, the MW sensor 1 is of a generally hemispherical
configuration having its base representing a substantially oval
shape when viewed from front and the AIR sensor 2A is of a
generally flattened configuration. However, in the second
embodiment, as best shown in a front elevational view in FIG. 7,
the AIR sensor 2A is of a size substantially identical with that of
the MW sensor 1 when viewed from front and, hence, the AIR sensor 2
has an outer periphery held in flush with that of the base of the
MW sensor 1.
[0052] The existing MW sensor 1 is of a structure in which the base
support la thereof has screw insertion throughholes 8 defined
therein for the passage of mounting pieces (screw members) used to
secure the MW sensor 1 to the transom 5. In correspondence
therewith, the AIR sensor 2A has corresponding screw insertion
throughholes 59 defined therein at respective locations alignable
with the screw insertion throughholes 8 in the MW sensor 1 when the
AIR sensor 2A is mounted onto the MW sensor 1 as shown in FIG. 6.
The MW sensor 1 and the AIR sensor 2A are, after the base support
la of the MW sensor 1 and the AIR sensor 2 have been overlapped one
above the other, secured rigidly to the transom 5 by means of
common mounting pieces (tapping screws) 57 and 57 that are passed
through the screw insertion throughholes 8 and then through the
screw insertion throughholes 59 and firmly threaded in the transom
5 or any other suitable support member for securement of the
existing MW sensor 1 to the transom 5 or any other suitable support
member, and finally, the MW sensor cover 21 attached to the base
support 1a. In other words, by the utilization of the site of
installation of the existing MW sensor 1 and the electric wiring
system used to connect the MW sensor 1 with the external electric
control circuit, the AIR sensor 2A is positioned having been
sandwiched between the MW sensor 1 and the transom 5. Accordingly,
the sensor device of the present invention is compactized with the
MW sensor 1 and the AIR sensor 2 integrated together.
[0053] As shown in a front elevational view in FIG. 7, the base of
the MW sensor 1 and the outer periphery of the AIR sensor 2A have
substantially identical outer contours and, accordingly, when the
MW sensor 1 and the AIR sensor 2A are integrated together in the
overlapped fashion, the resultant sensor device gives rise to a
smoothly contoured shape that is feasible to render the sensor
device to provide an appealing appearance.
[0054] As hereinbefore fully described, the present invention
represented by the previously described second embodiment is
effective to secure the safety in the doorway vicinity with a
compact and simplified structure having a smoothly contoured shape
and at an advantageously reduced cost since the activation sensor 1
and the safety sensor 2A are rigidly secured to the transom 5 in an
overlapped fashion one above the other and since the safety sensor
2A is mounted on the activation sensor 1 by the utilization of a
mounting structure of any existing activation sensor 1 to secure
the safety in the doorway vicinity.
[0055] Although the present invention has been fully described in
connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to
the accompanying drawings which are used only for the purpose of
illustration, those skilled in the art will readily conceive
numerous changes and modifications within the framework of
obviousness upon the reading of the specification herein presented
of the present invention. For example, although in any one of the
foregoing embodiments of the present invention, the activation
sensor 1 has been described as employed in the form of a MW sensor
utilizing the Doppler effect and the safety sensor 2 or 2A has been
described as employed in the form of an AIR (active type infrared)
sensor, they may not be always limited thereto and a combination of
any other activation sensor with any other safety sensor can be
employed, provided that the resultant sensor device can be
effective to secure the safety in the doorway vicinity. By way of
example, a MW sensor that does not make use of the Doppler effect,
a PIR (passive type infrared) sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an
electric wave type sensor or an image processing device can be
employed.
[0056] Accordingly, such changes and modifications are, unless they
depart from the scope of the present invention as delivered from
the claims annexed hereto, to be construed as included therein.
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